New Orleans passes landmark home sharing legislation

On December 1, the New Orleans City Council voted 5-2 to pass landmark legislation to regulate short-term rentals that will strengthen home sharing in the city.

Included in the ordinances are regulations for short-term rentals in owner-occupied and whole-home listings, a streamlined registration process, tools for enforcement, and funding for affordable housing.

1. Legalizes short-term rentals by creating three new listing types:

Unhosted (includes primary residences for homeowners and renters as well as investment rental properties); maximum of 90 rental nights per license year allowed.

Unhosted in commercial districts; limited to the VCE in the French Quarter.

2. Establishes a streamlined “pass-through” registration system to help hosts comply with city policies and safety regulations.

3. Permits platforms like Airbnb to collect and remit taxes on behalf of hosts*

*Starting January 1, 2017, Airbnb will begin collecting and remitting occupancy taxes on behalf of hosts in New Orleans.

A more detailed breakdown of this inclusive legislation — the result of a year-long collaboration with City officials — can be found here.

This legislation provides a model framework for other cities around the world, and the collaboration between Airbnb and the City of New Orleans is yet another case study for our new Airbnb Policy Tool Chest, a resource for local governments to consider as they draft or amend rules for home sharing, based on insights gained, lessons learned, and policy options developed through hundreds of home sharing policy collaborations across the world.

As home sharing flourishes in New Orleans, we look forward to continuing to deepen partnerships with city leaders, local businesses, and community organizations to generate economic activity throughout the city, protect the integrity of historic neighborhoods, and ensure New Orleans, and its passionate home sharing community, continues to thrive among the ranks of leading global cities in the sharing economy.